Mine-sweeping device



'M. C. A. H. PAPE.

MINE SWEEPING DEVICE.

APPLICATION HLED AUG-24, 1921.

1 410 334, Patented Mar. 28, 1922.

To all QU/LOUZ Z Z may, concern:

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or linen, "GER Y, nssrenoit 'ro' euro-NIT nx rrnivensnmsonerr, ornumb];nus; GERMANY.

= MINE-SWEEPINGDEVICEI Application 24, 1 9,2 1.1 Serial llod iifiefi.

Specification of Letters Pa tent. "Patented Mar, 28, 1922 f eniinrniiunnnn THE: rnovrsroirsf orrim nor on anon 351921.41 STAT. L.,'1s13.

'Beit known that LIVIA'X QARL AUeUs'r I'Inni'rANN' PAPE, a citizen of Germany, residing at Kiel, iermany, have invented new Number 317,574,815ifi1 March '5', 1920, Patand useful Improvements Relating to Mine- Sweeping Devices, (fonwhich I have {filed applications 'i'nGermany Deci 2, 1918, Patent ent Number 71,623; SwedenSept. 16, 1920, Patent Number 47,812; Finland August '13, 1920, Patent Number 8,132,1ind'in Czecho- Slovakia, Feb. 1 1, 1920, of which the following is a specification. y

This invention relates to mine sweeping devices and has for its main 0bject'to'pro vide an improved device which will be very efficient in operation. i

In the device according to the present invention a mine search line is stretched be tween two vessels and is fixed to the forward part of one ship, while the other end is guided over a pulley or roller on the forward part of the second-ship and has a water kite fixed thereto. l/Vhen the two ships are travelling,

both the mine search line and the water kite are influenced by the pressure of the water. The dimensions of the water kite are therefore so chosen that the water pressure acting upon it is greater than the water pressure acting on the mine search line between the two ships. By this arrangement the mine search line is constantly kept taut between the two ships. The search line is provided with a cutting device of known construction. When the mine search line encounters a mine anchoring cable the search line is forced back and at the same time the water kite is hauled forward. 7

In order to render it possible for the mine anchor cable to be engaged with one or another cutting device, the end of the mine search line having the water kite must be resilient. In order to reduce the water pressure WhlCh 1s increased on forward hauling of the water kite and thus to render the hauling process quicker the two wings of the kite,

which are kept spread by springs under tension, are so arranged that they can fold and thus reduce the area exposed to water pres sure. Immediately after the stoppage of the forward motion of the water kite the, kite wings resume their original position and as the mine anchoring cable which has been caught is no'w'cut through, the water kite is forcedback by the water pressuredue to the travelof the vessels so that the'm ine search line is brought back into its original posi tion. To the water kite" theremaybe connectedin any way a visible signal or alarm device'on the dQ k of the ship so thatit will indicate .when 'a mine anchoring cable has beencaught'andcut. p I y I The invention is illustrated on 'the'fa ccoms panying drawing wherein p s p Fig. l shows the deviceinnormal position of'search j l V k v Fig. 2 shows the mine search line in contactwith amine] anchoring line, 1 Fig.3 show s a plan viewp'artly in section of the water kite and also an end elevation thereof. g

In Figures 1 and 2 a and b are the two mine-sweeping vessels, 0 is a mine indicating detector of any suitable and known con struction, (Z is the mine search line provided with cutting devices 6. The mine search line is fixedly connected to one of the mine detectors at the point f and passes over a guide pulley g on the mine detector of the other ship. it is the trailer of the mine search line to the end of which the water kite i is fastened. k is a double cutting device interposed between the mine search line and trailer. Z indicates a mine which has'been found and m the mine anchoring cable which has been caught. In Fig. 3 the mine kite is shown, in which it indicates the two springs under tension and 0 the kite wings which can pivot round the axes p.

The method of mine sweeping is as follows Fig. 1 shows the mine sweeper in the ordinary position of search. The water kite The latter is resilient by it. At this moment the pressure against the mine seer-ch line relaxes and the/water kite brings it back into the normal position of search because thefpressure againsfi'the kite is now greater thanthfat against the search line. In the event that, es sh own by;

Fig.2, a second mine should be lying in the space covered by the forward drawn trailer,

the mine anchoring rope gets into that'jaw of the double cutting-"device-"k 'whi'cl1l ies opposite to the normal position,

In this Way itisseen that eachmine which lies. between v-thetwo sweeping vessels is cleared away; ftheflshipsj being able 'to' pom ti'nue' travelling because, the mine sweeper always 'aiitomaticazlly takes up the normal.

position of earch and "returns to it; flVhat I f 1. A mine sweeping device comp-risingtwo e d m nefseg h l e edlyl en t n on v s l; M ne e wn s l ilm' a traller'on-sa d Search l ne aigi'ude pulley;

onthe other vessel and ver which the trailer passes, and ineans o n said treilerfor holding the mine Search line resiliently taut. f I

' A mine'sw'eeping' device comprising two vessels a mine vsear-ell. line fixedly, 1 connected to onevessel,fcutting deviceson salidf'line, a trailer on said search line, a; guide pulley on the other vessel and over which the trailer passes, and a water kite on said trailer.

7 3. A mine sweeping device comprising two vessels',fa mine indicating device oneach vessel, a; mine search line fixedly connected to oneof said indicating devices, a trailer on said line, a guidepulley on the indicating device of the other vessel, cutting devices on said line, and a water kite on said traller.

- 45A mine sweeping device comprising two two sided cutting device between the trailer I and the mine Search line.

Witnessesp H :wiley- Johannes 'I'heod cn' Schwartz,

'Max Hans Friedrich Fiaburg,

MAX CARL Aucusr HERMANN PAPE. 

